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CHARTER 

FOR  CITY  OF  CHICO. 


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H.  A.  CARSON  ^Hk  CHICO.  CAL. 


CHARTER 

PREPARED  AND  PROPOSED  FOR  THE  CITY  OP 
CHICO,  COUNTY  OP  BUTTE,  STATE  OF  CALI- 
FORNIA,     BY     THE     BOARD  OP  FREE- 
HOLDERS ELECTED  JUNE  4,  1921, 
In  Pursuance  of  the  Provisions  of   Section  8, 
Article  XI,  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of 
California.  

ARTICLE  I. 
NAME,  RIGHTS  AND  BOUNDARIES  OF  CITY 

Sec.  1.  The  municipal  corporation  now  existing  and 
known  as  the  City  of  Chico  shall  remain  and  continue  a 
body  politic  and  corporate  in  name  and  in  fact  by  the 
name  of  "City  of  Chico,"  and  by  such  name  .shall  have 
perpetual   succession. 

1.  The  City  of  Chico  shall  remain  vested  with  and 
continue  to  have,  hold  and  enjoy  all  property,  rights  of 
property  and  rights  of  action  of  every  nature  and  de- 
scription now  pertaining  to  this  municipality,  and  is 
hereby  declared  to  be  subject  to  all  the  liabilities  that 
now  exist  against  this  municipality. 

2.  The  boundaries  of  the  City  of  Chico  are  hereby 
recited  to  be  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  the  intersection  of  the  northerly  line  of 
First  Street  with  the  westerly  line  of  Oak  Sreet  of  the 
City  of  Chico,  according  to  the  official  map  thereof  on 
filed  in  the  office  of  the  County  Recorder  of  Butte  Coun- 
ty; thence  running  easterly  along  the  northerly  Idne  of 
First  Street  to  the  westerly  right  of  way  line  of  the  South- 
ern Pacific  Railroad;  thence  northerly  along  said  right  of 
way  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  to  the  south- 
erly bank  of  Big  Chico  Creek;  thence  easterly  along  the 
southerly  bank  of  Big  Chico  Creek  to  the  easterly  line  of 
the  right  of  way  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad;  thence 
running  northwesterly  along  the  easterly  line  of  said 
right  of  way  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  to  the 
center  line  of  Sacramento  Avenue;  running  thence  north- 
easterly along  said  line  of  Sacramento  Avenue  to  the 
center  line  of  Chestnut  Street  of  Chico  Vecino;  running 
thence  northwesterly  along  said  line  of  Chestnut  Street  to 
the  center  line  of  First  Avenue;  running  thence  north- 
easterly along  said  line  of  First  Avenue  to  the  center 
line  of  North  Ivy  Street  of  the  Klondike  Addition  to 
Chico;  running  thence  northwesterly  along  said  line  of 
said  North  Ivy  Street  to  the  center  line  of  Sixth  Avenue 
of  the  said  Addition;  running  thence  northeasterly  along 
said  line  of  said  Sixth  Avenue  to  the  center  line  of  Ar- 


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cadiaii  Avenue  of  Chico  Veclno;  running  thence  north- 
westerly along  said  line  of  Arcadian  Avenue  to  the  center 
line  of  Seventh  Avenue  of  Chico  Vecino;  running  thenc« 
northeasterly  along  said  line  of  Seventh  Avenue  to  the 
center  line  of  the  Esplanade;  running  thence  southeast- 
erly along  said  line  of  Sixth  Ave.;  running  thence  north- 
easterly along  said  line  of  Sixth  Avenue  to  the  center  line 
of  Laburnum  Avenue;  running  thence  southeasterly 
along  said  line  of  Laburnum  Avenue  to  the  center  line 
of  Fourth  Avenue;  running  thence  northeasterly  along 
said  line  of  Fourth  Avenue  to  the  center  line  of  Spruce 
Avenue;  running  thence  southeasterly  along  said  line 
of  Spruce  Avenue  to  the  center  line  of  Third  Avenue; 
running  thence  northeasterly  along  said  line  of  Third 
Avenue  to  the  easterly  line  of  that  certain  alley  that 
runs  through  Block  9  and  10  of  the  14th  Subdivision 
of  the  John  Bidwell  Rancho;  running  thence  southeast- 
erly along  said  line  of  said  alley  to  the  center  line  of 
First  Avenue;  running  thence  southwesterly  along  said 
line  of  First  Avenue  to  the  center  line  of  Palm  Avenue; 
running  thence  southeasterly  along  the  center  line  of 
Palm  Avenue  produced  to  the  northerly  line  of  the  Chico 
Cemetery;  running  thence  easterly  along  said  northerly 
line  of  the  said  cemetery  to  the  northeasterly  corner 
thereof;  running  thence  southerly  along  the  easterly  line 
of  the  said  cemetery  to  the  southeasterly  corner  thereof; 
running  thence  westerly  along  the  southerly  line 
of  the  said  Cemetery  to  the  center  line  of  the 
Cemetery  Lane,  said  lane  being  that  certafn  county  road 
running  north  and  south  and  connecting  Sierra  Avenue 
of  the  City  of  Chico  with  the  aforesaid  cemetery,  being 
also  a  well  known  and  established  county  road;  running 
thence  south  along  said  center  line  of  said  lane  to  the 
southerly  line  of  Vallambrosa  Avenue,  said  avenue  be- 
ing an  official  county  road  and  running  along  and  ad- 
joining the  northerly  line  of  Bidwell  Park;  Bidwell  Park 
being  that  certain  tract  of  land  conveyed  by  Annie  E.  K. 
Bidwell  to  the  City  of  Chico,  dated  July  10th,  1905,  re- 
corded in  Book  83,  Page  41  of  deeds  in  the  records  o\ 
Butte  County;  following  thence  easterly  along  the  SDuth- 
erly  line  of  said  road  and  the  northerly  line  of  said  park 
to  the  easterly  end  of  the  twenty-second  course  as  set 
forth  In  said  deed,  said  course  reading,  North  54  de- 
grees 00  minutes  east,  2707.0  feet;  said  point  being  also 
known  as  station  23  of  the  said  Park  survey;  being  op- 
posite and  near  the  corner  common  to  Lots  32  and  33  of 
the  19th  subdivision  of  the  John  Bidwell  Rancho;  thence 
leaving  the  said  southerly  line  of  the  said  "Vallambrosa 
Avenue  and  following  the  said  northerly  boundary  of 
the  said  park  the  following  courses  and  distances: 

South  21  degrees  07  minutes  east,  678.0  feet;  thence 


curving  to  the  left  on  the  arc  of  a  circle  with  a  radius 
of  50.0  feet  a  distance  of  78.5  feet;  thence  north  68  de- 
grees 53  minutes  east,  117.0  feet;  thence  curving  to  the 
right  on  the  arc  of  a  circle  with  a  radius  of  100.0  feet  a 
distance  of  117.1  feet;  thence  curving  to  the  left  on  the 
arc  of  a  circle  with  a  radius  of  235.0  feet  a  distance  of 
708.2  feet;  thence  north  36  degrees  40  minutes  west, 
199.7  feet;  thence  curving  to  the  right  on  the  arc  of  a 
circle  with  a  radius  of  100.0  feet  a  distance  of  73.2  feet; 
thence  north  5  degrees  15  minutes  east,  483.9  feet; 
thence  curving  to  the  right  on  the  arc  of  a  circle  with 
a  radius  of  1400.0  feet  a  distance  of  490.8  feet;  thence 
north  25  degrees  20  minutes  east,  291.6  feet;  thence 
north  38  degrees  02  minutes  west,  294.6  feet;  to  the 
southerly  line  of  Vallambrosa  Avenue;  thence  following 
easterly  along  the  said  line  of  Villambrosa  Avenue,  said 
line  being  also  the  northerly  line  of  the  said  park,  to  the 
northeasterly  corner  of  the  19th  Subdivision  of  the  John 
Bidwell  Rancho,  said  point  being  also  known  as  station 
39  of  the  Bidwell  Park  survey;  thence  running  at  right 
angles  to  the  northerly  boundary  of  the  said  19th  Sub- 
division, north  21  degrees  03  minutes  east,  60.0  feet 
to  the  northerly  line  of  that  certain  county  road  which 
runs  along  and  adjoins  the  said  northerly  boundary  of 
the  said  19th  Subdivision  of  the  John  Bidwell  Rancho 
and  the  northerly  boundary  line  of  the  18th  Subdivision 
of  the  said  Rancho;  running  thence  westerly  along  said 
line  of  said  road  to  its  intersection  with  the  northerly 
line  of  the  said  park,  said  point  being  north  40  degrees 
10  minutes  east,  61.0  feet  from  station  4  0  of  said  park 
survey;  running  thence  along  the  said  northerly  bound- 
ary line  of  the  said  park  north  40  degrees  10  minutes 
east,  715.6  feet  to  station  41  of  the  said  survey;  thence 
north  55  degrees  34  minutes  east,  1120.0  feet  to  Station 
42  of  the  said  survey,  said  point  being  also  the  point  of 
beginning  mentioned  in  that  certain  deed  describing  a 
certain  addition  to  the  aforesaid  Bidwell  Park  conveyed 
by  Annie  E.  K.  Bidwell  to  the  City  of  Chico,  dated  May 
11th,  1911,  and  recorded  in  Book  169,  Page  146  of  Deeds, 
Butte  County  Records;  following  thence  along  a  line  as 
described  in  said  last  mentioned  deed,  said  line  being 
the  northerly  line  of  the  said  lands  as  described  in  said 
last  mentioned  deed,  north  50  degrees  4  5  minutes  east, 
6522.0  feet;  thence  north  78  degrees  2  4  minutes  east, 
1632.0  feet;  thence  north  82  degrees  02  minutes  east, 
2431.0  feet;  thence  north  61  degrees  06  minutes  east, 
3074.5  feet;  thence  north  34  degrees  08  minutes  east, 
6328.0  feet;  thence  north  44  degrees  45  minutes  east, 
4219.0  feet  to  a  point  on  the  northerly  line  of  the  Rancho 
Chico,  said  point  being  also  Station  54  of  the  said  Bid- 
well  Pank  survey,  said  point  being  also  mentioned  in  the 

—3— 


last  mentioned  deed;  running  thence  easterly  along  the 
north  line  of  the  said  Rancho  Chico  2000.0  feet  to  the 
northeasterly  corner  of  the  said  Rancho  Chico  In  the 
center  of  Big  Chico  Creek;  meandering  thence  down  the 
center  line  of  said  creek  to  its  intersection  with  the  lino 
dividing  the  north  and  south  half  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  Section  9,  Township  22  north,  Range  2  East;  run- 
ning thence  along  said  dividing  line  east  1915.0  feet  to 
the  edge  of  a  bluff  along  the  south  side  of  Big  Chico 
Canyon;  thence  following  said  edge  of  said  bluff  the  fol- 
lowing courses  and  distances;  South  63  degrees  30  min- 
utes west,  4580.0  feet,  south  85  degrees  20  minutes  west, 
1760.0  feet;  south  75  degrees  00  minutes  west,  1400.0 
feet;  north  15  degrees  00  minutes  west,  240.0  feet  to  a 
point  near  the  south  bank  of  Big  Chico  Creek;  thence 
south  75  degrees  00  minutes  west,  1550.0  feet  to  the 
northwesterly  corner  of  the  21st  Subdivision  of  the  John 
Bidwell  Rancho,  said  point  being  also  Station  76  of  the 
BIdwell  Park  Survey;  following  thence  in  a  southerly 
and  westerly  direction  along  the  northerly  line  of  the 
said  21.st  subdivision,  said  line  being  also  the  southerly 
line  of  the  aforesaid  Bidwell  Park,  to  its  intersection 
with  the  northerly  line  of  Centennial  Avenue;  thence 
westerly  along  said  northerly  line  of  Centennial  Avenue 
to  its  intersection  with  the  production  of  the  easterly 
boundary  line  of  the  State  Forestry;  running  thence  west- 
erly and  following  the  easterly  and  northerly  line  of 
the  said  Forestry,  said  line  being  also  the  southerly  line 
of  the  said  Park,  to  the  northwesterly  corner  of  the  said 
Forestry,  being  also  Station  114  of  the  said  Bidwell 
Park  Survey;  running  thence  along  the  said  Park  line 
the  following  courses  and  distances;  South  16  degrees 
36  minutes  east,  20.0  feet;  thence  north  78  degrees  52 
minutes  west,  70.7  feet;  thence  north  89  degrees  15 
minutes  west,  201.5  feet;  thence  curving  to  the  left  on 
the  arc  of  a  circle  with  a  radius  of  400.0  feet  a  distance 
of  120.1  feet;  thence  south  73  degrees  33  minutes  west, 
324.2  feet;  thence  curving  to  the  left  on  the  arc  of  a 
circle  with  a  radius  of  250.0  feet  a  distance  of  135.3 
feet;  thence  south  42  degrees  33  minutes  west,  155.7 
feet;  thence  south  35  degrees  08  minutes  west,  208.2 
feet;  thence  curving  to  the  left  on  the  arc  of  a  circle 
with  a  radius  of  500.0  feet  a  distance  of  158.2  feet; 
thence  south  17  degrees  00  minutes  west,  368.2  feet; 
thence  south  7  degrees  13  minutes  west,  612.0  feet; 
thence  south  22  degrees  52  minutes  west,  129.0  feet; 
thence  south  29  degrees  45  minutes  west,  235.0  feet; 
thence  south  38  degrees  22  minutes  east,  190.0  feet; 
thence  south  51  degrees  38  minutes  west,  402.0  feet; 
thence  south  59  degrees  04  minutes  west,  444.5  feet  to 
the  easterly  line  of  Tulip  street  of  the  13th  Subdivision 


of  the  John  Bidwell  Rancho,  said  point  belns  also  the 
easterly  end  of  the  northerly  line  of  Woodland  Avenue 
of  the  said  subdivision;  thence  southerly  along  the  east- 
erly line  of  Tulip  Street  to  the  center  line  of  Eighth 
Street,  formerly  known  as  Centennial  Avenue;  thence 
westerly  along  the  center  line  of  Eighth  Street  to  the 
center  line  of  Alder  Street,  formerly  Sierra  Street  of  the 
Ninth  Subdivision  of  the  John  Bidwell  Rancho;  thence 
southerly  along  the  center  line  of  said  Alder  Street  to 
the  center  of  Little  Chico  Creek;  thence  meandering 
up  the  center  of  Little  Chico  Creeik  to  its  intersection 
with  the  easterly  line  of  Chapman's  North  Addition  to 
the  City  of  Chico;  thence  southerly  along  the  easterly 
line  of  Chapman's  North  Addition  and  the  easterly  lino 
of  Chapman  Town  to  the  intersection  of  said  line  with 
the  center  line  of  Irwin  Street;  thence  easterly  along 
the  center  line  of  Irwin  Street  to  the  center  line  of  "C" 
Street  of  the  Aisthorp  Tract;  thence  southerly  along 
the  center  line  of  "C"  Street  to  the  center  line  of  19th 
Street,  formerly  known  as  Cave  Street  of  the  Baker, 
Jones  and  Smith  Subdivision;  thence  westerly  along 
the  center  line  of  Cave  Street  to  the  center  line  of  Laurel 
Street;  thence  southeasterly  along  the  center  line  of 
Laurel  Street  to  the  center  line  of  that  cer- 
tain alley,  being  the  first  alley  northerly  from 
Boucher  Street  of  Henry's  Second  Addition  to  Chico; 
thence  westerly  along  the  center  line  of  that  certain 
alley  to  the  center  line  of  Mulberry  Street;  thence  south- 
east along  the  center  line  of  Mulberry  Street  to  the 
center  line  of  2  0th  Street,  formerly  known  as  Eighth 
Street  of  the  Mulberry  Tract;  thence  southwesterly  along 
the  center  line  of  Eighth  Street  to  the  easterly  line  of 
Park  Avenue;  thence  southeasterly  along  the  easterly 
line  of  Park  Avenue  to  its  intersection  with  the  most 
southerly  line  of  the  Fruitvale  Additions  produced; 
thence  southwesterly  along  said  southerly  line  of  Fruit- 
vale  Additions  to  the  southwesterly  corner  of  said  ad- 
ditions; thence  northerly  along  the  westerly  line  of  said 
additions  to  the  southerly  line  of  South  Sycamore  Street 
of  Barber's  Addition  to  the  City  of  Chico;  thence  north- 
westerly along  said  line  of  South  Sycamore  Street  to  Its 
intersection  with  the  southerly  line  of  Block 
21  to  Barber's  Addition  to  the  City  of  Chico;  thence 
along  the  southerly  line  of  Block  21  and  its  production, 
which  is  the  southerly  line  of  Barber's  Addition  to  Chico 
to  a  point  one  hundred  (100)  feet  southeasterly  from 
the  intersection  of  the  southeasterly  line  of  Del  Norte 
with  said  southerly  line  of  Barber's  Addition;  thence 
running  In  a  straight  line  to  a  point  on  the  southerly 
line  of  Del  Norte  thirty  (30)  feet  westerly  from  the  In- 
tersection of  said  line  with  the  southerly  line  of  Bar- 


ber's  Addition  to  the  City  of  Chlco;  thence  in  a  straight 
line  to  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Block  22  of  Barber's 
Second  Addition  to  the  City  of  Chico,  which  is  on  the 
northerly  line  of  the  property  of  the  Diamond  Match 
company;  thence  running  northwesterly  along  said 
northerly  line  of  the  property  of  the  Diamond  Match 
company  to  the  northerly  corner  thereof;  thence  run- 
ning southwesterly  along  the  northwesterly  line  of  the 
property  of  the  Diamond  Match  Company  to  its  inter- 
section with  the  westerly  line  of  Thomasson's  Addition 
to  the  City  of  Chico;  thence  northwesterly  along  the 
westerly  line  of  said  Thomasson's  Addition,  to  the  cen- 
ter of  Little  Chico  Creek;  thence  meandering  down  the 
center  of  Little  Chico  Creek  to  the  center  line 
of  the  Dayton  Road;  thence  southerly  along 
the  center  line  of  the  Dayton  Road  to  the  southerly  line 
of  Deveney's  Addition  to  Chico;  thence  northerly  along 
the  southerly  line  of  said  Deveney's  Addition  to  the  City 
of  Chico,  to  the  southwesterly  corner  thereof;  thence 
running  in  a  straight  line  to  a  point  in  Little  Chico  Creek, 
which  point  is  located  by  the  intersection  of  the  center 
line  of  Little  Chico  Creek  and  a  line  parallel  to  the 
westerly  line  of  Oak  Street  drawn  southerly  from  the 
westerly  corner  of  Block  11  of  Kemp's  Addition  to  the 
City  of  Chico;  thence  northerly  and  parallel  to  the 
westerly  line  of  Oaik  Street  to  the  westerly  corner  of 
Block  Eleven  (11)  of  Kemp's  Addition  to  the  City  of 
Chico;  thence  northwesterly  along  the  westerly  bound- 
ary of  Kemp's  Addition  to  the  City  of  Chico  to  a  point  on 
said  line  246.3  feet  southerly  from  the  southerly  line 
of  Fifth  Street;  thence  southwesterly  and  parallel  to 
the  southerly  line  of  Fifth  Street  to  the  northerly  line 
of  the  right  of  way  of  the  Sacramento  Northern  Railroad, 
formerly  known  as  the  Northern  Electric  Railroad; 
thence  westerly  along  said  northerly  line  of  said  right 
of  way  to  its  intersection  with  the  production  of  the 
westerly  line  of  Bryant's  Addition  of  the  City  of  Chico; 
thence  northerly  along  said  westerly  line  of  Bryant's  Ad- 
dition to  the  City  of  Chico  to  the  westerly  line  of  Oak 
Street  of  said  city,  aforementioned;  thence  northerly 
along  said  westerly  line  of  Oak  Street  to  the  point  of 
beginning, 

ARTICLE  II. 
POA\'ERS  OF  THE  ( ITY. 
Sec.  1.     The  City  of  Chico  shall  have  and  exercise  the 
following  powers: 

1.  To  have  perpetual  succession. 

2.  To  have  and  use  a  corporate  seal  and  alter  it  at 
pleasure. 

3.  To  sue  and  be  sued  in  all  courts  and  places,  and 
In  all  actions  and  proceedings  whatsoever. 

—6— 


4.  To  purchase,  receive,  have,  take,  hold  lease,  and 
use  and  enjoy  property  of  every  kind  and  description, 
both  within  and  without  the  limits  of  said  City,  and  to 
control  and  dispose  of  the  same  for  the  public  benefit. 

5.  To  receive  bequests,  devises,  and  donations  of 
property  of  every  kind,  either  absolutely  or  in  trust  for 
any  purpose,  and  to  do  all  acts  necessary  to  carry  out 
the  purposes  of  such  bequests,  devises  and  donations, 
and  to  manage,  control,  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of  such 
property  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  such  bequests, 
devises  or  donations. 

6.  To  exercise  police  powers  and  make  all  necessary 
police  and  sanitary  regulations,  and  to  adopt  ordinances 
and  prescribe  penalties  for  the  violation  thereof. 

7.  To  levy  and  coll6ct  taxes  and  assessments,  impose 
license  fees  for  revenue  or  regulation,  and  provide  all 
means  for  raising  the  revenue  necessary  for  the  city. 

8.  To  borrow  money,  incur  municipal  indebtedness 
and  provide  for  the  issuance  of  bonds  or  other  evidences 
of  such  indebtedness. 

9.  To  acquire,  construct,  maintain  and  operate  all 
necessary  works  for  and  supplying  of  the  City  and  it* 
inhabitants  with  water,  light,  heat,  power,  telegraphic, 
and  telephonic  communication,  and  for  the  conveyance 
of  passengers  and  freight  over,  under  and  upon  public 
streets  and  rights  of  way  secured  therefore;  to  fix  rates 
for  all  commodities  furnished  or  services  rendered,  and 
to  dispose  of  commodities  produced  or  render  service  in 
connection  with  such  works  outside  of  the  boutfdariea 
of  said  City. 

10.  To  improve  the  streams  and  channels  flowing 
through  the  City  or  adjoining  the  same;  to  widen, 
straighten  and  deepen  the  channels  thereof,  and  remove 
obstructions  therefrom;  to  construct  and  maintain  em- 
bankments and  other  works  to  protect  the  City  from 
overflow. 

11.  To  establish  and  change  the  grade  and  lay  out, 
open,  extend,  widen,  change,  vacate,  pave,  re-pave,  or 
otherwise  improve  all  public  streets  and  highways  and 
public  places,  construct  sewers,  drains  and  culverts,  to 
plant  trees,  construct  parking,  and  to  remove  shrubs 
and  woods;  to  levy  special  assessments  to  defray  the 
whole  or  any  part  of  the  cost  of  such  works  or  improve- 
ments. Also  to  provide  for  the  repair,  cleaning  and 
sprinkling  of  such  streets  and  public  places. 

12.  To  acquire,  construct  and  maintain  all  works 
necessary  for  the  disposition  of  sewage,  garbage  and 
waste;  and  to  define  and  abate  nuisances. 

13.  To  establish  and  maintain  hospitals,  indigent 
homes,  and  all  other  charitable  institutions. 

14.  To    acquire   and    maintain    parka,    play-grounds. 


and   places  for   recreation,   and   to   establish   bouleyard* 
and  regular  traffic  thereon. 

15.  To  acquire  and  maintain  markets,  baths,  and 
public   halls  and   auditoriums. 

16.  To  establish  and  maintain  schools,  libraries, 
museums,  art  galleries,  and  gymnasiums,  and  to  do  all 
things  to  promote  the  education  of  the  people. 

17.  To  equip  and  maintain  a  fire  department  and  to 
make  all  necessary  regulations  for  the  prevention  of 
fires. 

18.  To  acquire,  construct  and  maintain  all  buildings 
necessary  for  the  transaction  of  public  business. 

19.  To  exercise  the  right  of  eminent  domain  for  the 
purpose  of  acquiring  real  and  personal  property  of  every 
kind  for  any  public  use. 

20.  To  grant  temporary  permits  to  use  the  streets 
or  public  property,  revokable  at  any  time  without 
notice. 

21.  To  regulate  and  establish  rates  and  charges  to 
be  imposed  and  collected  by  any  person  or  corporation 
for  commodities  or  services  rendered  under  or  in  con- 
nection with  any  franchise,  permit  or  license  heretofore 
or  hereafter  granted  by  the  town  or  city  or  other  au- 
thority. 

22.  To  exercise  such  other  powers  as  are  now  or 
may  be  hereafter  granted  by  the  legislature  to  the  mu- 
nicipalities within  the  state  unless  the  exercise  of  such 
powers  is  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  this  charter. 

23.  To  exercise  all  other  needful  powers  for  the  effi- 
cient administration  of  the  municipal  government, 
whether  such  powers  are  herein  expressly  enumerated 
or  not. 

24.  Lastly,  this  grant  of  power  is  to  be  liberally  con- 
structed for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  well  being  of 
the  municipality  and  its  inhabitants. 

ARTICLE  m. 

ELECTIONS. 

Sec.    5.     General   municipal    elections   shall   be   held 

on  the  second  Monday  in  April  of  each  odd  numbered 

year.     The  first  election  under  this  charter  shall  be  held 

on  the  second  Monday  in  April,  1923. 

Sec.  6.  CALLING  THE  ELECTION:  The  Council 
shall  by  ordinance  order  the  calling  and  the  holding  of 
elections.  Such  ordinance  shall  specify  the  objects,  time 
and  places  within  the  City  for  holding  such  elections, 
and  the  names  of  the  inspectors,  judges  of  election,  and 
clerks  for  each  voting  precinct  into  which  the  City  shall 
be  divided  for  the  holding  and  making  returns  of  such 
elections.  The  number  of  election  officers  at  each  pre- 
cinct shall  not  exceed  six  in  number,  at  least  three  of 
whom  shall  be  present  at  all  times  during  the  election. 

— 8 — 


Said  ordinance  shall  be  publiAhed  once  each  week  in  a 
local  paper  of  general  circulation  during  the  two  weeks 
next  before  the  time  appointed  for  holding  the  election. 

Sec.  7.  FILING  THE  RETURNS:  The  returns  from 
each  election  precinct  shall  be  filed  with  the  Clerk,  and 
no  person  shall  be  permitted  access  to  them  until  can- 
vassed by  the  council.  After  having  been  can- 
vassed they  shall  be  sealed  up  by  the  Clerk  for  six 
months  and  no  person  shall  have  access  to  them,  except 
on  order  of  a  court  of  general  jurisdiction. 

Sec.  8.  NOTIFYING,  THE  SUCCESSFUL  CANDI- 
DATES: After  the  result  of  an  electios  is  declared,  the 
Clerk,  under  his  hand  and  official  seal,  shall  issue  a 
certificate  thereof  and  serve  the  same  personally  or  by 
mail  upon  the  person  elected. 

Sec.  9.  PROVISIONS  OF  STATE  LAW  TO  APPLY: 
The  provisions  of  the  laws  of  the  State  of  California  re- 
lating to  the  qualifications  of  electors,  the  manner  of 
voting,  the  duties  of  election  officers,  and  all  other  par- 
ticulars in  respect  to  the  management  of  elections,  so 
far  as  they  may  be  applicable,  shall  govern  all  municipal 
elections,  except  as  otherwise  provided  in  this  Charter. 

Sec.  10.  TERMS  OF  ELECTIVE  OFFICERS:  Elec- 
tive officers  shall  hold  office  for  a  period  of  four  years, 
from  and  after  eight  o'clock  P.  M.,  of  the  third  Monday 
of  April  following  the  day  of  election,  and  until  their 
successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec.   11.      In  the   election   of  councilmen   at   the  first 
general  municipal  election,  where  full  terms  and  one  or 
more  unexpired  terms  are  to  be  filled,   the  person  or 
persons  elected  by  the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be 
elected  for  the  full  term,  and  the  person  or  persons  re- 
ceiving the  next  highest  vote   shall  be  elected  for  the 
short  term  or  terms,  as  the  case  may  be. 
ARTICLE  IV. 
LEGISLATIVE. 
THE   COUNCIL:      FOAV'ERS    AND   DUTIES 

Sec.  14.  The  legislative  power  of  the  City  of  Chico 
shall  be  vested  in  a  body  to  be  designated  The  Council, 
and  in  the  people  through  the  initiative  and  referendum. 

Sec.  15. — MEMBERSHIP,  TERMS,  ETC.;  The  Council 
shall  consist  of  five  memhers  elected  by  the  voters  of 
the  city  at  large,  for  four  years.  Councilmen  shall  serve 
until  the  election  and  qualification  of  their  successors. 
Provided,  however,  the  Council  shall  have  power  to  di- 
vide the  city  into  five  wards  and  to  provide  for  the 
election  of  one  councilman  from  each  ward  by  the 
electors  of  the  whole  city. 

In  the  first  election  the  three  candidates  receiving  the 
highest  votes  shall  serve  for  four  years,  and  the  next 
two  highest  for  two  years.     Thereafter  members  of  the 


council  shall  be  elected  for  four  years,  unless  elected 
to  fill  vacancies,  In  which  case  they  shall  be  elected  for 
the  remainder  of  the  unexpired  term.  All  members  are 
subject  to  recall  as  provided  for  in  this  charter.  At  th« 
time  of  election,  each  candidate  shall  have  been  an  elec- 
tor of  the  city  for  at  least  three  years  next  preceding  th« 
date  of  the  election. 

Sec.  16.  MEETINGS  AND  COMPENSATION:  Th« 
Council  shall  meet  in  regular  session  at  8  P.  M.  the  first 
Tuesday  of  each  month,  and  at  such  other  times  as  it 
may  determine.  The  meeting  shall  be  held  in  the  mu- 
nicipal building  and  shall  be  open  to  the  public.  A 
special  meeting  may  be  called  by  the  mayor,  or  by  any 
three  members.  Written  notice  of  such  special  meeting 
must  be  given,  not  less  than  three  hours  before  meeting, 
to  each  and  every  member  of  the  Council  in  the  city. 

Sec.  17.  QUORUM.  Three  members  of  the  Council 
■hall  constitute  a  quorum. 

Sec.  18.  GENERAL  POWERS  OF  THE  COUNCIL: 
Subject  to  the  provisions  and  restrictions  in  this  charter 
contained,  and  the  valid  delegation  by  this  charter  of  any 
of  the  powers  hereinafter  included  to  any  person,  officer, 
board  or  committee,  which  delegation  of  power,  if  any 
shall  control,  the  council  shall  have  the  power  in  the 
name  of  the  city  to  do  and  perform  all  acts  and  things 
appropriate  to  a  municipal  corporation  and  the  general 
welfare  of  its  inhabitants  and  which  are  not  specifically 
forbidden  by  the  constitution  of  the  state  or  which  now 
or  hereafter  it  would  be  competent,  for  this  charter 
specifically  to  enumerate.  No  enumeration  or  specific 
statement  herein  of  any  particular  powers  shall  be  held 
to  be  exclusive  of,  or  a  limitation  of  the  foregoing  gen- 
eral grant  of  powers. 

Sec.  19.  CERTAIN  POWERS  AND  DUTIES  ENUM- 
ERATED:    The  Council  shall: 

1.  Judge  of  the  qualifications  of  its  members  and 
of  all  election  returns. 

2.  Establish  rules  of  its  proceedings. 

3.  Keep  a  correct  journal  of  its  proceedings.  The 
ayes  and  noes  shall,  on  demand  of  any  member,  be  taken 
and  entered  therein;  and  they  shall  be  recorded  on  all 
final  votes  passing  any  ordinance  or  resolution,  appoint- 
ing or  dismissing  any  official,  and  in  giving  definite 
direction  to  any  officer. 

4.  Choose  one  of  its  members  as  presiding  officer,  to 
be  called  mayor,  for  the  term  of  two  years.  The  mayor 
shall  preside  over  the  sessions  of  the  council,  shall  sign 
official  documents,  when  the  signature  of  the  council  Is 
required  by  law,  and  he  shall  act  as  the  official  head  of 
the  city  on  public  occasions.  When  the  mayor  Is  absent 
the  members  of  the  council  may  choose  one  of  their  own 

— 10 — 


members  to  act  as  mayor  pro  tem,  and  he  shall  for  the 
time  being,  have  the  powers  of  the  mayor. 

5.  Appoint  a  city  clerk  and  fix  his  duties  and  com- 
pensation. The  clerk  shall  perform  all  the  duties  pre- 
scribed by  the  council  and  now  or  hereafter  required  of 
him  by  the  laws  of  the  state  when  not  inconsistent  with 
this  charter. 

6.  Appoint  a  City  Assessor  and  fix  his  compensation, 
which  office  may  be  combined  with  that  of  City  Clerk. 

7.  Appoint  a  City  Tax  Collector  and  fix  his  com- 
pensation. 

8.  Appoint  a  City  Attorney  and  fix  his  compensation. 

9.  Appoint  a  City  Manager  and  fix  his  compensation. 

10.  Appoint  a  board  of  five  library  trustees. 

11.  Appoint  a  board  of  five  park  and  playground 
commissioners. 

12.  Appoint  a  board  of  five  sidewalk  tree  commis- 
sioners. 

13.  Provide  for  the  election  of  a  City  Treasurer  and 
fix  his  compensation. 

14.  Provide  for  the  election  of  a  Police  Judge  and 
fix  his  compensation. 

15.  Have  power  to  remove  any  appointee  of  the 
Council  from  his  office  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Council 
by  a  three-fifths  (3-5)  vote. 

Sec.  20.  ORDINANCES:  The  enactment  clause  of 
every  ordinance  passed  by  the  council  shall  be:  "Be  it 
ordained  by  the  Council  of  the  City  of  Chico."  Ordi- 
nances initiated  by  the  people  shall  have  an  enacting 
clause:  "Be  It  ordained  by  the  people  of  the  City  of 
Chioo."  At  least  five  days  must  elapse  between  the  in- 
troduction and  the  final  passage  of  any  ordinance.  A 
final  vote  on  any  ordinance  or  any  vote  on  any  approp- 
riation must  be  taken  only  at  a  regular  or  adjourned 
regular  meeting.  All  ordinances  must  be  published 
once  in  the  official  newspaper  of  the  City,  or  in  such 
other  form  that  it  may  be  sent  to  the  voters.  The  Coun- 
cil shall  determine  in  any  case  which  method  is  to  be 
used.  Any  ordinance  granting  any  franchise  or  priv- 
ilege shall  be  published  at  the  expense  of  the  applicant 
therefor. 

It  is  provided  further,  that  in  case  of  an  extraordi- 
nary epidemic  or  any  disaster,  such  as  flood,  fire,  earth- 
quake, requiring  immediate  action  on  the  part  of  any 
public  authorities,  an  urgency  ordinance  may  be  intro- 
duced and  passed  at  either  a  regular  or  special  meeting 
without  any  intervention  of  time  between  fntroduction 
and  final  passage. 

Sec.  21.  WHEN  ORDINANCES  GO  INTO  EFFECT: 
Except  as  herein  provided,  no  penal  ordinances,  or 
measure  passed  by  the  council,   granting  any  franchise 

— 11 — 


or  privilege,  and  no  ordinance  or  measure  making  or 
authorizing  any  contract  except  contracts  for  improve- 
ments, the  expenses  whereof  are  to  be  defrayed  by  local 
assessment,  and  contracts  where  the  subject  matter  in- 
volved is  of  less  value  than  five  hundred  dollars,  shall 
go  into  effect  in  less  than  thirty  days  after  its  final  pass- 
age. But  ordinances  and  contracts  declared  by  the 
Council  to  be  necessary  as  emergency  measures  for  the 
Immediate  preservation  of  the  public  peace,  health  or 
safety,  containing  the  reasons  for  their  urgency,  passed 
by  a  four-fifths  vote  of  the  whole  Council,  and  not  obli- 
gating the  city  for  a  longer  period  than  one  year,  may 
go  into  effect  at  the  will  of  the  Council,  or  as  otherwise 
provided  by  law. 

Sec.  22. — AMENDING  ORDINANCES:  No  ordinance 
shall  be  revised,  re-enacted  or  amended  by  reference  to 
Its  title;  but  the  ordinance  to  be  revised  or  re-enacted 
or  the  section  thereof  to  be  amended,  shall  be  re-enacted 
at  length  as  revised  and  amended.  Any  ordinance  re- 
vised, re-enacted  or  amended  contrary  to  the  provisions 
of  this  section  shall  be  void. 

Sec.  23.  GENERAL  CITY  WORK:  In  the  erection. 
Improvements  and  repair  of  all  public  buildings  and 
works,  in  all  street  and  sewer  work,  and  in  all  work  in 
and  about  streams  or  in  and  about  embankments  or 
other  wonks  for  protection  against  overflow  and  ero- 
sion, and  in  furnishing  any  supplies  and  materials  for 
the  same,  or  for  any  other  use  by  the  City,  when  the 
expenditure  required  for  the  same  exceeds  the  sum  of 
Five  Hundred  Dollars  ($500.00),  the  same  shall  be  done 
by  contract,  and  shall  be  let  to  the  lowest  responsible 
bidder,  after  advertising  for  sealed  proposals  for  the 
work  contemplated  in  at  least  one  issue  of  the  official 
newspaper.  Such  notice  shall  distinctly  and  specifically 
state  the  work  contemplated  to  be  done.  Except  that 
where  plans  and  specifications  or  both  have  been  adopted 
and  filed  with  the  City  Clerk,  reference  may  be  made 
thereto  in  the  notice.  Provided,  however,  the  Council 
may  reject  any  and  all  bids,  if  deemed  excessive,  and 
readvertise  for  bids,  or  provide  by  a  four-fifths  vote,  for 
the  work  to  be  done  by  the  City  Manager.  In  case  no 
bid  is  received,  the  Council  may  likewise  provide  for  the 
work  to  be  done  by  the  City  Manager. 

Sec.  24.  CONTRACTS  FOR  OFFICIAL  ADVERTIS- 
ING: The  Council  shall  let  annually  contracts  for  the 
official  advertising  for  the  ensuing  fiscal  year.  For 
this  purpose  the  Council  shall  advertise  in  at  least  one 
issue  of  the  official  newspaper,  setting  forth  distinctly 
and  specifically  the  work  contemplated  to  be  done,  and 
asking  for  sealed  proposals  therefor.  The  proposals 
shall  specify  the  type  and  spacing  to  be  used  at  the  rate 

—12— 


or  rates  named  in  the  bids.  The  Council  shall  let  the 
contracts  for  such  official  advertising  to  the  lowest  re- 
sponsible bidder  publishing  a  daily  newspaper  in  the 
City  which  is  a  newspaper  of  general  circulation  and  has 
been  in  existence  at  the  time  of  the  awarding  of  the  eon- 
tract  at  least  one  year;  provided  that  the  Council  may 
reject  any  and  all  bids  if  found  excessive,  and  advertise 
for  new  bids.  The  newspaper  to  which  the  award  of 
such  advertising  is  made  shall  be  known  and  designated 
as  the  "official  news  paper." 

In  no  event  shall  the  rate  for  official  advertising  ex- 
ceed the  usual  rate  charged  by  the  paper  for  publishing 
1  per  3.1    nofi  OPS 

Sec.  25.  COUNCILMEN  INTJLIGIBLE  TO  OTHER 
CITY  POSITIONS:  No  councilman  shall  be  eligible  to 
appointment  on  any  board  or  commission  provided  for 
in  this  charter   except  as  designated  in  the  charter  or 

Sec.  26.  VACANCIES  IN  THE  COUNCIL:  A  coun- 
cilman who  is  absent  three  consecutive  regular  meetings 
shall  forfeit  his  seat  unless  excused  by  the  Council  for 
cause.  Any  vacancy  occurring  in  the  Council  shall  be 
filled  by  a  person  appointed  by  a  majority  vote  of  the 
Council.  Said  person  so  appointed  shall  serve  until  his 
successor  is  elected,  which  shall  be  done  at  the  next 
regular  election  at  which  councilmen  are  chosen. 

Sec.  27.  COMMITTEES  OF  COUNCIL:  The  Council 
shall  appoint  such  standing  and  other  committees  as  it 
deems  necessary. 

Sec.  28.  SALE  OR  LEASE  OF  CITY  PROPERTY: 
No  sale  of  real  estate  shall  be  authorized  by  the  Council 
except  by  ordinance  passed  by  the  affirmative  vote  of 
four-fifths  of  all  the  members,  and  no  lease  shall  be 
made  for  a  period  longer  than  five  years  except  by  ordi- 
nance adopted  by  the  Council. 

Sec.  2  9.  EXPERT  ACCOUNTANT:  At  least  once 
each  year  the  Council  shall  appoint  and  fix  the  com- 
pensation of  an  expert  accountant  who  shall  investigate 
the  transactions  and  accounts  of  all  officers  having  the 
collection,  custody  or  disbursement  of  public  money,  or 
having  the  power  to  approve,  allow,  or  audit  demands 
on  the  treasury,  and  bring  in  such  report  as  the  council 
may  require. 

Sec.  30.  OFFICIAL  BONDS:  The  Council  shall,  by 
ordinance,  determine  what  officers  shall  give  bonds  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  their  duties,  and  shall  fix 
the  amounts  of  such  bonds;  and  each  of  such  officers 
shall,  before  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  exe- 
cute a  bond  to  the  City  in  the  penal  sum  provided  by 
the  ordinance,  including  in  the  same  bond  the  duties 
of  all  offices  of  which  he  is  made,  by  this  charter,  or 

—13 — 


otherwise,  ex-officio  incumbent.  Such  bonds  must  be 
examined  and  approved  by  the  Council.  Bonds  given 
by  the  councilmen  shall  be  approved  by  the  City  Attor- 
ney. All  bonds  when  approved  shall  be  filed  with  the 
City  Clerk,  except  the  City  Clerk's  bond,  if  any,  which 
shall  be  filed  with  the  Treasurer.  All  the  provisions  of 
any  law  of  this  state  relating  to  the  official  bonds  of 
olficers  as  then  existing  shall  apply  to  such  bonds  ex- 
cept as  herein  otherwise  provided.  Every  officer  of  the 
city,  before  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  shall 
taike  and  file  with  the  City  Clerk  the  constitutional  oath 
of  office,  except  that  of  the  City  Clerk,  which  shall  be 
filed  with  the  Treasurer. 

ARTICLE  V. 

FINANCIAL/. 
APPROPRIATIONS;  BUDGET;  TAX  RATE. 
Sec.  34.  THE  ESTIMATE:  The  fiscal  year  of  the 
City  shall  begin  on  the  first  day  of  January.  On  or  be- 
fore the  second  Tuesday  in  August  of  each  year,  the 
manager  shall  submit  to  the  Council  an  estimate  of  the 
revenues  and  expenditures  of  the  city  departments  for 
the  ensuing  year.  This  estimate  shall  be  compiled  from 
detailed  information  obtained  from  the  several  depart- 
ments, on  blanks  to  be  furnished  by  the  city  manager. 
The  classification  of  the  estimate  of  expenditures  shall 
be  as  nearly  uniform  as  possible  for  all  departments,  and 
shall  give  the  following  information: 

1.  A  detailed  estimate  of  the  expenses  of  each  de- 
partment; 

2.  ExpendiHires  for  corresponding  items  for  the  last 
and  for  the  current  fiscal  years,  including  adjustments 
due  to  transfers  between  appropriations  plus  an  esti- 
mate of  expenditures  necessary  to  complete  the  current 
fiscal  year. 

3.  Such  Information  as  may  be  required  by  the 
Council  or  as  the  manager  may  deem  advisable  to  sub- 
mit; 

4.  The  recommendations  of  the  manager  as  to  the 
amounts  to  be  appropriated,  with  reasons  therefor,  in 
such  detail  as  the  Council  may  direct; 

5.  Sufficient  copies  of  such  estimate  shall  be  pre- 
pared and  submitted,  that  there  may  be  copies  on  file 
in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  for  the  inspection  of  the  pub- 
lic. 

Sec.  35.  BUDGUET:  After  the  estimate  of  expenses 
for  each  department,  specified  above,  have  been  filed 
with  the  city  manager,  the  manager  shall  proceed  to 
make  a  tentative  budget  of  all  the  different  departments 
and  submit  it  to  the  Council,  making  a  copy  for  each 
member. 

After  the  completion  of  such   budget  the  same  shall 

— 14 — 


form  the  basis  for  the  rate  of  taxes  for  the  succeeding 
fiscal   year. 

Sec.  3  6.  APPROPRIATION  ORDINANCE:  Upon  re- 
cept  of  such  estimate,  the  Council  shall  prepare  and 
publish  a  tentative  appropriation  ordinance,  shall  fix  a 
time  and  place  for  holding  a  public  hearing  upon  the 
same,  not  less  than  ten  days  after  such  publication,  and 
shall  give  public  notice  of  such  hearing,  but  shall  not 
pass  the  final  appropriation  ordinance  earlier  than  ten 
days  after  such  public  hearing. 

Sec.  37.  TRANSFER  OF  FUNDS:  At  the  time  of 
fixing  the  tax  levy,  the  Council  shall,  by  ordinance,  es- 
tablish a  general  fund  and  the  various  funds  as  provided 
for  by  the  budget,  and  no  transfer  of  any  money  shall 
be  made  from  any  other  than  the  general  fund  to  an- 
other until  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year,  at  which  time, 
after  all  demands  have  been  paid  out  of  the  various 
funds,  the  Council  may,  at  its  option,  transfer  any  re- 
maining balance  to  the  general  fund,  except  such  funds 
as  remain  to  the  credit  of  the  Park,  Library  and  Side- 
walk Tree  Commission;  and  the  Council  may  then  au- 
thorize a  transfer  from  the  general  fund  to  any  other 
in  which  there  is  an  overdraft  created  by  an  actual 
emergency  in  the  department,  but  under  no  other  con- 
dition may  such  transfer  be  made. 

Sec.  38.  TAX  RATE:  The  total  tax  rate  for  any  one 
year  shall  not  exceed  one  per  cent  of  the  assessed  valua- 
tion, unless  a  special  tax  be  authorized  by  a  two-thirds 
majority  of  all  votes  cast  at  an  election  held  after  at 
least  thirty  days'  notice  in  the  published  call  for  the 
election;  a^.d  the  proceeds  of  all  such  special  tax  shall 
be  used  for  no  other  purpose  than  that  specified  In  said 
call;  provided,  however,  that  in  addition  to  said  one  per 
cent  there  shall  be  included  in  every  annual  levy,  a  suf- 
ficient amount  to  cover  all  liabilities  of  the  city  for  prin- 
cipal and  interest  of  all  bonds  or  judgments  due  and 
unpaid,  or  to  become  due  during  the  ensuing  fiscal  year 
and  not  otherwise  provided  for. 

Provided  further,  that  in  addition  to  the  above  taxes 
mentioned,  there  shall  be  levied  a  tax  not  to  exceed 
twenty  cents  on  each  one  hundred  dollars  of  assessed 
valuation  for  the  Library  fund;  and  further  there  shall 
be  levied  a  tax  not  to  exceed  thirty-five  cents  on  each 
one  hundred  dollars  of  assessed  valuation  for  the  sup- 
port of  parks  and  playgrounds;  provided  further,  that 
there  shall  be  levied  a  tax  not  to  exceed  two  cents  on 
each  one  hundred  dollars  of  assessed  valuation  for  the 
support  of  the  Sidewalk  Tree  Commission;  provided 
further,  that  the  Council  may  in  its  discretion  levy  a 
tax  not  to  exceed  thirty  cents  on  each  one  hundred  dol- 
lars of  assessed  valuation  for  the  purpose  of  paving  or 

— 15 — 


re-paving  streets  or  sidewalks  and  gutters  In  front  of 
property  belonging  to  the  City. 

Sec.  39.  THE  CITY  ASSESSOR  shall  on  the  first 
Monday  in  March  of  each  year  assess  all  property  in  the 
City. 

Sec.  40.  EQUALIZATION:  On  the  first  Monday  in 
July  in  each  year,  and  daily  thereafter  until  and  includ- 
ing the  following  Saturday,  or  for  such  further  time  as 
they  may  find  necessary,  the  Council  shall  meet  as  a 
Board  of  Equalization,  for  the  hearing  and  adjudication 
of  all  complaints  regarding  the  description,  valuation 
or  ownership  of  assessed  property,  or  the  omission  of 
property  which  should  be  assessed.  Notice  of  the  time 
and  place  of  such  meeting  shall  be  published. 

At  such  meetings  the  Council  shall  publicly  order, 
and  the  Assessor  shall  enter  upon  the  tax  roll,  all  such 
corrections  as  may  be  adjudged  equitable.  In  case  of 
any  additional  asessment,  the  Assessor  shall  immediately 
send  written  notice  of  the  same  to  the  person  assessed. 

Sec.  41.  THE  TAX  RATE  FIXED:  After  approval 
by  the  Board  of  Equalization,  the  tax  roll  shall  be  cer- 
tified by  the  Clerk,  and  shall  be  subject  to  no  further 
alteration.  It  shall  then  be  delivered  to  the  Clerk,  who 
shall,  within  ten  days,  ascertain  and  certify  to  the  Coun- 
cil the  total  valuation  of  real  estate,  improvements  and 
personal  property.  The  Council,  in  view  of  this  and  the 
estimate  of  Income  and  expenses  submitted  by  the  man- 
ager, shall,  at  its  first  regular  meeting  in  October,  pro- 
ceed to  fix  the  rate  of  taxation  for  the  coming  year  and 
to  apportion  the  estimated  proceeds  thereof  to  the 
several  purposes  indicated  in  the  budget. 

Sec.  42.  EXTENSIONS:  The  Clerk  shall  at  once 
proceed  to  extend  upon  the  tax  roll,  the  tax  due  upon 
each  item.,  according  to  the  rate  fixed  by  the  Council, 
and  a  lien  in  favor  of  the  city  as  of  the  first  Monday  in 
March  of  each  year  in  the  amount  due,  together  with 
penalties  attached,  shall  lie  automatically  against  the 
real  property  assessed  to  the  delinquent  owner,  until 
all  taxes  due  from  him  are  paid. 

Sec.  43.  TIME  OF  PAYMENT  OF  TAXES:  The  taxes 
so  levied  shall  become  due  and  payable  the  first  Monday 
in  December  of  each  year  and  become  delinquent  the 
last  Monday  in  December  of  each  year. 

Sec.  44.  COLLECTION:  After  completion  of  the 
tax  roll,  the  Clerk  shall  deliver  the  roll  to  the  Collector, 
who  shall  prepare  a  bill  of  taxes  due  from  each  tax  payer 
owning  real  property,  on  which  shall  be  shown  the  valua- 
tion of  each  parcel  of  such  owner's  property,  whether 
real  estate,  improvements,  or  personalty,  the  rate  of  as- 
sessment, the  total  amount  due  on  each  parcel  with  the 
dates  when  due  and  when  delinquent,  and  the  penalties 

— 16 — 


for  delinquency;  and  not  later  than  the  first  day  of  No- 
vember, he  shall  mail  to  each  tax  payer,  or  to  his  au- 
thorized agent,  whose  address  is  known  to  him,  a  dupli- 
cate of  said  bill  and  shall  receive  and  receipt  for  all 
taxes  and  penalties  paid  and  shall  then  return  the  tax 
roll  to  the  Clerk.  The  Tax  Collector  shall  note  upon  the 
tax  roll  all  collections  as  made,  shall  make  a  daily  report 
to  the  Clerk  of  the  amount  collected,  and  make  daily 
deposit  of  the  same  with  the  Treasurer. 

Sec.  45.  PROCEDURE  FOR  MUNICIPAL.  TAXA- 
TION: Except  as  in  this  Article  otherwise  provided,  the 
assessment  of  property  taxable  in  the  City  for  municipal 
purposes,  the  equalization  of  assessments  and  collection 
of  taxes,  the  sale  of  property  for  unpaid  taxes  and  the 
redemption  of  property  sold  for  taxes,  shall  be  made  and 
had  at  the  same  time  and  manner,  and  with  like  effect, 
as  now  or  may  be  hereafter  provided  by  law  for  the  as- 
sessment of  property,  equalization  of  assessments,  levy 
and  collection  of  taxes  and  sale  of  property  for  unpaid 
taxes  for  state  and  county  purposes  and  redemption 
thereof;  and  all  provisions  of  law  applicable  to  such 
assessment,  equalization,  levy,  collection  and  sale  tor 
state  and  county  purposes  are  hereby  applied  to  and 
shall  be  the  law  governing  such  assessment,  equaliza- 
tion, levy,  collection  and  sale  for  municipal  purposes, 
and  the  respective  officers  of  the  city  shall  have,  possess, 
and  perform  the  same  powers  and  duties  in  all  matters 
concerning  revenue  and  taxation  for  municipal  purposes 
as  are  by  law  conferred  or  imposed  upon  county  officers 
in  matters  concerning  revenue  and  taxation  for  state  and 
county  purposes. 

Sec.  46.  SPECIAL  TAXES  AND  BONDS:  Whenever 
the  Council  shall  determine  that  the  public  interest  de- 
mands an  expenditure  for  municipal  purposes,  which 
cannot  be  provided  for  out  of  the  ordinary  revenues  of 
the  city,  it  may  submit  to  the  qualified  voters  at  a  regu- 
lar or  special  election  a  proposition  to  provide  for  such 
expenditure,  either  by  levying  a  special  tax,  or  by  issuing 
bonds,  but  no  such  special  tax  shall  be  levied,  nor  any 
such  bonds  issued,  unless  authorized  by  the  affirmative 
votes  of  two-thirds  of  the  electors  voting  at  such  elec- 
tion.    No  bonds  shall  be  issued  to  meet  current  expenses. 

Sec.  47.  LIMIT  OF  BONDED  INDEBTEDNESS:  The 
bonded  debt  of  the  city  shall  at  no  time  exceed  a  total 
of  fifteen  (15)  per  cent  of  the  assessed  valuation  of  all 
property  taxable  for  the  city  purposes,  and  of  this  fif- 
teen per  cent  not  more  than  one-half,  or  seven  and  one- 
half  (7%)  per  cent  of  the  assessed  valuation  shall  at 
any  time  be  outstanding  for  Improvements  of  a  non-in- 
come producing  character,  except  as  provided  in  the  next 
section. 

—17— 


Bonds  to  a  total  amount,  not  exceeding  seven  and  one- 
half  (TM)  per  cent  of  said  valuation,  may  be  set  apart 
and  excluded  from  said  limit  of  fifteen  (15)  per  cent 
whenever  any  public  utility  or  utilities  for  which  they 
may  have  been  issued,  shall  produce  a  net  income  above 
all  charges  for  operation  and  depreciation  sufficient  to 
pay  the  principal  and  Interest  of  the  bonds  so  set  apart 
and  excluded  as  they  become  due. 

Sec.  48.  INVENTORY  OF  CITY  ASSETS:  The  City 
Manager  shall,  Immediately  upon  taking  office  and  an- 
nually thereafter,  inventory  and  appraise  the  value  of 
all  real  estate,  buildings,  furniture  and  fixtures,  sup- 
plies, and  moveable  property  of  every  kind  and  nature 
whatsoever,  in  each  department,  building  and  office  of 
the  city,  and  may  require  of  each  officer  or  department 
head  an  Inventory  of  the  same;  and  any  officer,  or  de- 
partment head  who  neglects  or  refuses  to  make  such  in- 
'ventory  required  by  the  City  Manager  shall  be  punish- 
able by  removable  from  office.  The  annual  balance  sheet 
taken  from  the  city  ledger  shall  exhibit,  under  classified 
heads,  all  assets  of  the  city,  including  its  plant,  equip- 
ment, material  and  suj)plies,  cash  on  hand,  investments, 
loans,  and  all  amounts  and  accounts  due  and  owing, 
of  every  character.  In  like  manner  such  balance  sheet 
shall  show,  under  classified  heads,  all  liabilities  of  every 
character.  A  copy  of  every  contract  hereafter  entered 
into,  to  which  the  city  is  a  party,  duly  verified  by  the 
City  Clerk  to  be  a  full,  true  and  accurate  copy,  shall  be 
filed  by  the  City  Clerk  with  the  City  Manager  within  ten 
days  after  the  same  shall  have  been  executed. 
ARTICIJE  n. 
POLICE  COURT;  JUDICIAL.,  LEGAL  AND 
EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS. 

Sec.  50.  POLICE  COURT:  The  judicial  power  of 
the  city  shall  be  vested  in  a  police  court,  which  court  is 
hereby  established.  The  police  judge  of  the  city  shall 
hold  said  police  court  and  said  court  shall  have  juris- 
diction concurrently  with  the  justice's  courts,  of  all 
actions  and  proceedings,  civil  and  criminal,  arising  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  the  city,  and  which  might  be  tried 
in  such  justice's  court.  Said  police  court  shall  have  ex- 
clusive jurisdiction  of  all  actions  for  the  recovery  of 
any  fine,  penalty  or  forfeiture  prescribed  for  the  breach 
of  any  ordinances  of  the  city;  of  all  actions  founded  upon 
any  obligation  or  liability  created  by  any  ordinance; 
and  of  all  prosecutions  for  any  violation  of  any  ordinance. 
The  rules  of  practice  and  mode  of  proceeding  in  said  po- 
lice court  shall  be  the  same  as  are  or  may  be  prescribed 
by  law  for  justice's  court  in  like  cases.  Appeals  may 
be  taken  to  the  Superior  Court  of  the  county  in  which 
the  City  of  Chico  is  located,  from  all  judgments  of  said 

— 18 — 


police  court,  in  like  manner  and  with  like  effect  as  in 
cases  of  appeals  from  justices'  courts. 

Sec.  51.  The  police  judge  shall  be  judge  of  the  po- 
lice court  and  shall  have  the  powers  and  perform  the 
duties  of  a  magistrate.  He  may  administer  and  certify 
oaths  and  affirmations. 

Sec.  52.  In  all  cases  in  which  the  police  judge  is  a 
party,  or  in  which  he  is  interested,  or  when  he  is  related 
to  either  party  by  consanguinity  or  affinity  within  the 
third  degree,  or  is  otherwise  disqualified,  or  in  case  of 
sickness  or  inability  to  act,  the  police  judge  may  call  upon 
any  justice  of  the  peace  residing  in  the  county  to  act 
In  his  stead. 

Sec.  53.  The  City  Council  shall  have  power  to  unite 
the  office  of  the  Police  Judge  and  City  Clerk.  The 
Council  may  appoint  the  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town- 
ship in  which  the  City  of  Chico  is  located,  as  Police 
Judge. 

Sec.  54.  CITY  ATTORNEY:  The  City  Attorney  shall 
be  an  elector  of  the  City  at  the  time  of  his  appointment, 
and  shall  be  an  attorney  and  counselor-at-law  duly  ad- 
mitted to  practice  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Stat© 
of  California.  He  shall  have  been  engageg  actually  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  for  a  period  of  at  least  four 
years  next  before  his  appointment. 

Sec.  55.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  prosecute,  on  behalf 
of  the  people,  all  criminal  cases  before  the  Police  Court 
and  justices  of  the  peace,  for  all  violations  of  this  char- 
acter and  of  city  ordinances.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  at- 
tend to  all  suits  and  other  matters  to  which  the  City  is 
a  party  or  in  which  the  City  may  be  legally  interested. 
He  shall  be  in  attendance  at  every  meeting  of  the  Coun- 
cil, unless  excused  therefrom. 

He  shall  give  his  advice  or  opinion  in  writing  when- 
ever required  by  the  Council,  other  city  officers,  or  the 
Board  of  Education.  He  shall  be  the  legal  adviser  of 
all  city  officers;  he  shall  approve  the  forms  of  all  bonds 
given  to  and  all  contracts  made  with  the  City;  he  shall, 
when  required  by  the  Council,  or  any  member  thereof, 
draft  all  proposed  ordinances  for  the  City,  and  amend- 
ments thereto;  and  shall  do  and  perform  all  things 
touching  his  office  as  the  City  Manager  may  require  of 
him,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  shall  surrender 
to  his  successor  all  books,  papers,  and  documents  per- 
taining to  the  City's  business. 

Sec.  56.  THE  TAX  COLLECTOR  shall  perform  such 
duties  as  are  prescribed  by  this  charter,  by  ordinance, 
and  by  general  law.  The  Council  may  designate  the 
Chief  of  Police  as  Tax  Collector. 

Sec.  57.  THE  TREASURER  shall  be  the  custodian  of 
all  moneys  of  the  municipality,  and  shall  keep  and  pre- 

— 19— 


serve  the  same  in  such  place  or  places  as  may  be  deter- 
mined by  the  Council.  He  shall  pay  out  money  only  on 
warrants  issued  by  the  City  Clerk  as  the  Council 
shall  direct. 

Sec.  58.  THE  ASSESSOR  shall  perform  all  dutie* 
prescribed  by  this  charter,  by  ordinance  and  by  general 
law,  for  assessing  property  for  the  purpose  of  taxation. 
The  assessment  of  property  within  the  city  shall  be 
made  for  each  year  by  the  Assessor,  and  he  shall  employ 
such  clerical  assistance,  in  the  judgment  of  the  council, 
as  may  be  required  to  properly  prepare  such  assessment. 

Sec.  59.  THE  MAYOR:  The  Mayor  shall  be  recog- 
nized by  the  courts  as  the  official  head  of  the  city  for 
the  purpose  of  serving  civil  process,  by  the  Governor  for 
the  purpose  of  military  law,  and  shall  represent  the  city 
for  all  ceremonial  purposes. 

ARTICLE  Vn. 

CITY   MANAGER. 

POWERS  AND  DUTIES. 

Sec.  60.  The  City  Manager  need  not  be  resident  of 
the  State  of  California  at  the  time  of  his  appointment. 
He  shall  hold  office  until  removed  by  a  three-fifths  vote 
of  the  whole  Council. 

Sec.   61.     His  powers  and  duties  shall  be. 

1.  To  see  that  all  ordinances  of  the  City  are  en- 
forced. 

2.  .  To  appoint  and  fix  the  salaries,  except  as  other- 
wise \)rovided  in  this  charter,  of  all  heads  of  departments, 
subordinate  officials  and  employes  in  the  Department  of 
Administration  and  the  Department  of  Public  Utilities, 
and  to  remove  the  same.  All  salaries  shall  be  fixed  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  by  the  City  Council. 

3.  To  exercise  general  supervision  and  direction  over 
all  persons,  firms,  companies  and  corporations  owning, 
controlling  or  operating  public  utilities  within  the  city 
limits,  insofar  as  any  of  them  are  subject  to  muncipal 
control.  This  provision  is  subject  to  other  charter  pro- 
visions relative  to  such  public  utilities  as  now  are  or 
may  hereafter  be  owned  by  the  city; 

4.  To  keep  the  Council  fully  informed  as  to  compli- 
ance with  the  law  in  the  operation  of  public  utilities 
within  the  city  limits;  to  see  that  the  provisions  of 
franchises,  permits  and  privileges  granted  the  Cdty  are 
fully  observed,  and  to  report  to  the  Council  any  viola- 
tion thereof; 

5.  Board  of  Social  Service.  To  appoint  a  board  of 
social  service,  which  shall,  under  him,  have  charge  of  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  care  and  relief  of  the  needy, 
the  establishment  of  employment  bureaus,  day  nurseries 
and  the  like.  Said  board  shall,  under  the  City  Manager, 
have  charge  of  the  expenditure  of  the  relief  fund  pro- 

—20— 


Tided  by  the  Council.  It  may  receive  and  distribute  gifts 
from  private  individuals  and  from  institutions.  Its  ap- 
pointed members  shall  serve  without  compensation; 

6.  To  act  as  purchasing  agent  for  all  departments  of 
the  city  except  those  of  education  and  recreation.  In 
those  departments  he  shall  assist  in  making  purchases 
when  requested  to  do  so  by  the  respective  boards  in  con- 
trol thereof; 

7.  To  attend  all  meetings  of  the  Council  unless  ex- 
cused therefrom  by  the  Council  or  by  the  Mayor; 

8.  To  examine  or  cause  to  be  examined,  without  no- 
tice, the  conduct  of  any  officer  or  employe  in  the  de- 
partments of  Administration  and  Public  Utilities; 

9.  To  keep  the  Council  advised  as  to  the  needs  of 
the  City; 

10.  To  appoint  a  secretary,  whose  compensation 
shall  be  fixed  by  the  Council; 

11.  To  prepare  or  cause  to  be  prepared,  plans,  speci- 
fications, etc.,  for  work,  which  the  Council  may  order, 
coming  under  his  supervision; 

12.  To  have  control,  subject  to  such  ordinances  as 
may  from  time  to  time  be  adopted,  of  all  public  utilities 
owned  and  operated  by  the  City; 

13.  To  devote  his  entire  time  to  the  interests  of  the 
City; 

14.  He  may  appoint  advisoi*y  boards  of  such  number 
of  members  as  he  may  deem  best,  to  confer  with  him  and 
assist  him  in  his  management.  Members  of  advisory 
boards  shall  serve  without  pay. 

15.  The  City  Manager  may  appoint  a  street  superin- 
tendent, and  may  combine  in  one  appointment  the  offices 
of  street  superintendent  and  city  engineer.  The  street 
superintendent  shall  be  head  of  the  street  department. 

16.  The  City  Manager  shall  be  ex-officio  member  of 
the  Board  of  Social  Service. 

Sec.  62.  In  the  absence  or  disability  of  the  City 
Manager,  the  Council  shall  fill  the  vacancy  by  temporary 
appointment. 

Sec.  63.  CITY  ENGINEER:  The  City  Manager  shall 
appoint  a  city  engineer.  He  must  be  a  civil  engineer, 
who  has  practiced  his  profession  not  less  than  five  years. 
The  city  engineer  shall  possess  the  same  power  in  making 
surveys,  plats  and  certificates  as  is  given  by  law  to  city 
engineers  and  to  county  surveyors.  He  shall  be  the  cus- 
todian of  and  shall  be  responsible  for.  all  maps,  plans, 
profiles,  field  notes  and  other  records  and  memoranda 
belonging  to  the  city,  and  pertaining  to  his  office  and 
to  the  work  thereof;  all  of  which  he  shall  ikeep  In 
proper  order  and  condition,  with  full  indexes  thereof, 
and  shall  turn  over  the  same  to  his  successor,  taking 
from  him  duplicate  receipts  therefor,  one  of  which  he 

— 21— 


shall  file  with  the  clerk.  All  maps,  plans,  profiles,  field 
notes,  estimates  and  other  memoranda  of  surveys  and 
other  professional  work  made  or  done  by  him  or  under 
his  direction  or  control,  during  his  term  of  office,  or 
that  he  may  have  received  from  his  predecessor,  shall 
remain  the  property  of  the  city. 

ARTICLE   Vm. 
DEI»ARTMENT  OF  AI>>nNISTRATION. 

Sec.  65.  The  Department  of  Administration,  when 
herein  referred  to,  shall  be  held  to  include  the  Depart- 
ment of  Safety,  the  Department  of  Streets,  which  depart- 
ment is  hereby  created,  and  also,  (subject  to  the  city 
ordinances  and  general  law)  the  control  of  all  street 
and  sewer  work,  the  erection  and  repair  of  all  buildings, 
(except  such  as  may  be  under  the  control  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  the  Dibrary  Board,  or  the  Park  Commis- 
sion). 

Sec.  66.  The  Department  of  Administration  shall 
embrace  all  other  executive  and  administrative  func- 
tions of  the  city  government  not  otherwise  provided  for, 
and  shall  be  under  the  direction  and  control  of  the  City 
Manager,  subject  to  the  limitations  of  this  charter. 
ARTICLE  IX. 
DEPARTIMENT  OP  PL^LIC  SAFETY. 

Sec.  69.  The  Department  of  Public  Safety  shall  In- 
clude a  police  department,  a  fire  department,  and  a 
health  department,  which  departments  are  hereby  cre- 
ated. Said  departments  shall  be  under  the  control  of 
the  City  Manager,  subject  to  provisions  of  this  charter 
otherwise  provided. 

Sec.  70.  The  Mayor  may  take  command  of  the  po- 
lice and  govern  the  city  by  proclamation  during  time  of 
public  danger  and  emergencies  for  a  period  not  exceed- 
ing twenty-four  hours  and  he  shall  himself  be  the  judge 
of  what  constitutes  such  public  dangers  or  emergencies; 
such  command  may  be  continued  for  a  longer  period  by 
a  majority  vote  of  the  City  Council  at  a  special  meeting 
called  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  71.  POLICE  DEPARTMENT:  The  City  Man- 
ager shall  appoint  a  chief  of  police  and  shall  appoint 
and  remove  subordinates  in  the  police  department  sub- 
ject to  the  provisions  herein  stated.  The  chief  of  po- 
lice shall  make  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government 
of  the  police  department,  subject  to  approval  by  the 
City  Manager.  The  City  Manager  shall  be  the  sole  judge 
as  to  the  fitness  of  applicants  for  positions  in  the  police 
department. 

Sec.  72.  FIRE  DEPARTMENT:  The  City  Manager 
shall  appoint  the  chief  of  the  fire  department  and  shall 
appoint  and  remove  subordinates  in  said  department 
subject  to  the  provisions  hereinafter  stated.     The  chief 

— 22— 


of  the  fire  department  shall  make  rules  and  regulations 
for  the  government  of  the  fire  department,  subject  to 
the  approval  by  the  City  Manager,  and  shall  exercise 
such  powers  as  are  provided  by  state  law  or  as  are  or 
may  be  provided  by  ordinance. 

Sec.   73.      HEALTH  DEPARTMENT:      The   City  Man- 
ager shall  appoint  a  health  officer.     He  shall  hold  office 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  City  Manager   and  shall  be 
head  of  the  Health  Department.     As  health  officer,   he 
shall  have  all  the  powers  and  shall  be  subject  to  all  the 
duties  conferred  on  Boards  of  Health  and  on  health  offi- 
cers by  the  general   laws   of   the   state,   and   shall  have 
such  other  powers  and  duties  as  may  be  conferred  by 
ordinance.     This  office  may  be  combined  with  some  other 
if  deemed  advisable  by  the  Council. 
ARTICLE    X. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  EDUCATION. 
SCHOOLS  AND  LIBRARIES. 

Sec.  81.  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION:  The  control  of 
the  Public  School  Department  of  the  City  of  Chico,  in- 
cluding the  whole  of  Chico  School  District,  shall  be 
vested  in  a  Board  of  Education,  which  shall  consist  of 
five  members  elected  from  the  district  at  large.  They 
shall  receive  no  compensation,  and  their  term  of  office 
shall  be  for  four  years. 

Sec.  82.  In  the  first  election  for  members  of  the 
Board  of  Education  under  this  charter  the  three  candi- 
dates receiving  the  highest  vote  shall  serve  for  four 
years,  and  the  next  two  highest  for  two  years.  There- 
after members  of  the  Board  of  Education  shall  be 
elected  for  four  years,  unless  elected  to  fill  vacancies, 
in  which  case  they  shall  be  elected  for  the  balance  of  the 
unexpired  term.  Members  of  the  Board  of  Education 
shall  be  subject  to  recall  as  provided  in  this  charter. 

Sec.  83.  The  powers  and  duties  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation shall  be  such  as  are  prescribed  by  the  constitu- 
tion and  laws  of  the  State  of  California  covering  city 
boards  of  education. 

Sec.  84.  Territory  may  be  annexed  to  the  Chico 
School  District  under  this  charter  in  the  same  manner 
as  is  provided  by  state  law  for  the  annexation  of  terri- 
tory to  cities  for  school  purposes. 

Sec.  8  5.  The  Board  of  Education  shall  organize  and 
act  as  a  High  School  Board  as  provided  by  the  laws  of 
the  State  of  California. 

Sec.  86.  LIBRARY  TRUSTEES:  The  Board  of  Li- 
brary Trustees  shall  consist  of  five  members,  each  to 
serve  for  four  years,  except  that,  at  the  first  appoint- 
ment under  this  charter,  two  shall  be  appointed  for  two 
years;  three  for  four  years;  and  thereafter  appointments 
shall  be  for   four  years.      In   case  of  a  vacancy   in   the 

—23— 


membership  of  said  board,  the  same  shall  be  filled  by 
an  appointee  of  the  remaining  members  of  the  board  for 
the  remainder  of  the  term  then  vacant.  Library  Trustees 
shall  receive  no  compensation. 

Sec.  87.  The  Board  of  Library  Trustees  shall  main- 
tain the  Chico  Free  Library  in  accordance  with  the  laws 
of  the  state  governing  free  public  libraries  and  reading 
rooms. 

Sec.  88.  LIBRARY  FUND:  The  Board  of  Library 
Trustees  shall  have  the  management  and  disbursement 
of  all  funds  regularly  appropriated  or  received  for  th© 
support  of  the  public  library.  All  bills,  demands,  or 
claims,  after  having  been  audited  by  said  Library  Board, 
shall  be  presented  in  the  same  form  as  other  bills 
against  the  City  of  Chico,  to  the  Council,  and  shall  then 
be  paid  in  the  same  manner  as  all  other  bills  of  said  city, 
except  that  all  library  bills  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  Li- 
brary Fund,  which  fund  is  hereby  established. 

Sec.  89.  The  Board  of  Library  Trustees  shall  also 
be  the  trustees  and  custodians  of  all  museums,  art  gal- 
leries or  academies  of  science,  which  may  be  established 
by  gift  or  grant  or  otherwise  in  the  Oity  of  Chico  for  the 
diffusion  of  mechanical,  scientific,  artistic  or  general 
knowledge  and  shall  conduct  the  same  under  the  general 
laws  of  the  State  of  Calfornia  unless  otherwise  provided 
for  by  the  gift  or  grantor. 

Sec.    90.     The   City   Council,   by  ordinance,    may   cre- 
ate a  fund  for  the  maintenance  of  said  institutions,  the 
same  to  be  raised  by  a  special  tax  or  as  may  be  otherwise 
provided  by  general  law  or  ordinance. 
AUTICLE  XI. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  RECREATION. 
BIDAl'ELL   PARK    AND    PLAYGROUND    COMMISSION. 

Sec.  93.  The  Council  shall  appoint  a  Board  of  Park 
Commissioners  to  be  iknown  as  the  Bidwell  Park  and 
Playground  Commission,  consisting  of  five  members, 
each  to  serve  four  years,  except  that  of  the  first  appoint- 
ments under  this  charter,  two  shall  be  appointed  for  a 
term  of  two  years.  Thereafter  appointments  shall  be 
for  four  years.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  membership 
of  said  board,  the  same  shall  be  filled  by  an  appointee 
of  the  remaining  members  of  the  board  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  term  then  vacant.  The  members  of  the 
commission  shall  receive  no  compensation  for  their 
services.  Three  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for 
the  transaction  of  business.  They  shall  elect  a  chairman 
and  secretary  to  act  for  said  Board. 

Sec.  94.  The  commission  shall  have  the  full  and 
exclusive  power  to  govern,  manage  and  direct  all  of  the 
parks  and  playgrounds  now  owned  by  the  City  of  Chico, 
and  any  and  all  which  may  hereafter  be  acquired;   to 

— 24— 


1*7  out,  regulate  and  Improve  the  same;  to  employ  and 
appoint  such  superintendents,  clerks,  surveyors  and  en- 
gineers, supervisors,  laborers  and  other  officers  and  as- 
sistants as  the  commission  deems  necessary  for  the  man- 
agement of  said  parks  and  playgrounds  and  its  affairs. 
The  said  commission  shall  have  power,  not  to  exceed  the 
power  conferred  on  the  City  of  Chico  by  any  deed  of 
gift  of  any  park  or  playground,  to  do  and  perform  every- 
thing necessary  for  the  care  and  management  and  im- 
provement of  any  park  or  playground  that  the  said  City 
of  Chico  might  do,  conferring  all  of  said  powers  on  said 
commission,  including  the  right  to  lease  or  let  the  whole 
or  any  portion  of  the  city's  parks  or  playgrounds  under 
the  terms  and  conditions  of  said  gifts. 

Sec.  95.  The  commissioners  shall  have  authority  and 
I>ower  to  adopt  such  rules  as  they  may  deem  necessary 
for  the  regulation,  use  and  government  of  the  parks  and 
playgrounds  under  their  supervision.  Such  rules,  after 
being  adopted,  shall  be  published  for  at  least  one  inser- 
tion In  the  official  city  paper,  and  shall  be  in  effect 
thirty  days  after  their  passage,  approval  and  publica- 
tion; and  all  persons  violating  and  offending  against 
such  rules  and  regulations  shall  be  guilty  of  misde- 
meanor, and  on  the  sentence  of  a  competent  court,  shall 
be  fined  to  an  amount  not  to  exceed  one  hundred 
($100.00)  dollars  or  imprisoned  in  the  city  jail  of  the 
City  of  Chico  not  to  exceed  ninety  (90)  days  or  shall 
be  subject  to  both  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  96.  The  commissioners  may  accept  donations, 
legacies  or  bequests  for  the  aid  and  improvement  of 
the  parks  and  playgrounds  under  their  control,  provided 
that  all  moneys  that  shall  be  derived  from  such  dona- 
tions, legacies  or  bequests,  shall,  unless  otherwise  pro- 
vided for  under  the  terms  of  such  donations,  legacies, 
or  bequests,  be  deposited  in  the  treasury  of  the  City 
of  Chico  to  the  credit  of  the  Bidwell  Park  and  Playground 
Fund. 

Provided  further,  however,  that  the  commissioners 
may  invest  such  donations,  legacies  or  bequests,  if  not 
needed  for  immediate  use  in  their  judgment,  in  interest 
bearing  securities  of  the  United  States  Government,  the 
State  of  California,  municipal  corporations  or  school 
districts,  and  the  commission  may  change  the  form  of 
such  investment  as  they  may  deem  best. 

Sec.  97.  The  commissioners  shall  have  the  manage- 
ment and  disbursement  of  funds  regularly  appropriated 
or  received  for  the  support  of  the  parks  and  playgrounds 
under  its  control,  provided,  however,  that  all  bills,  de- 
mands or  claims,  after  having  been  audited  by  the  said 
commission,   shall   be  presented   to   the   Council   of  said 

— 25 — 


city  of  Chico  for  payment  out  of  the  Bidwell  Park  and 
Playground  Fund,   which   fund   is  hereby  established. 

Sec.  98.  The  Council  shall  appoint  a  Commission  to 
be  iknown  as  the  Sidewalk  Tree  Commission,  consisting 
of  five  members,  to  serve  for  four  years.  Vacancieg 
shall  be  filled  by  appointment  of  the  Council.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  Commission  shall  receive  no  compensation. 
The  City  Manager  and  the  City  Engineer  shall  be  ex- 
officio  members  of  this  Commission.  In  case  these  of- 
fices are  combined,  the  Superintendent  of  Street  shall 
be  an  ex-officio  member  of  the  Commission. 

Sec.  9  9.  The  Commission  shall  have  full  and  exclu- 
sive charge  of  the  propogation,  purchasing,  planting, 
re-planting,  pruning  and  care  of  the  trees  on  the  streets 
of  the  City;  provided,  however,  that  in  the  case  of  side- 
walk tree  planting,  the  property  owner  may  have  the 
option  of  selecting  what  specie  of  tree  shall  be  planted. 
They  shall  have  power  to  appoint  superintendents,  em- 
ployes and  assistants  in  the  performance  of  their  work. 
They  shall  not  have,  power,  however,  to  remove  any 
tree  or  trees,  unless  said  tree  or  trees  are  dead  or  dan- 
gerous to  public  traffic,  on  the  streets  of  the  City  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  owner  or  owners  of  the  property 
fronting  ^hereon  and  the  approval  of  the  Council. 

Sec.  100.  The  Commission  shall  have  the  management 
and  disbursement  of  all  funds  regularly  appropriated  or 
received  for  the  execution  of  their  work  and  the  care 
of  the  sidewalk  trees;  provided,  however,  that  all  bills, 
demands  or  claims,  after  having  been  audited  by  the 
said  Commission,  shall  be  presented  to  the  Council  of 
the  said  City  of  Chico  for  payment  out  of  the  Sidewalk 
Tree  Fund,  which  Fund  is  hereby  created. 
ARTICLE  Xn. 
PUBL.IC  MORKS  AND  SUPPLIES. 

Sec.  105.  FORM  OF  CONTRACT.  All  contracts  shall 
be  drawn  under  the  supervision  of  the  City  Attorney. 
All  contracts  must  be  in  writing,  executed  in  the  name 
of  the  City  of  Chico  by  an  officer  or  officers  authorized 
to  sign  the  same. 

Sec.  106.  PROGRESSIVE  PAYMENTS  ON  CON- 
TRACTS. Any  contract  may  provide  for  progressive 
payments,  if  in  the  ordinance  authorizing  or  ordering 
the  work  permission  is  given  for  such  a  contract.  But 
no  progressive  payments  can  be  provided  for  or  made 
at  any  time  which,  with  prior  payments,  if  there  have 
been  such,  shall  exceed  in  amount  at  that  time  seventy- 
five  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  labor  done  and  the  ma- 
terials used  up  to  that  time,  and  no  contract  shall  pro- 
vide for  or  authorize  or  permit  the  payment  of  more 
than  seventy-five  (75)  per  cent  of  the  contract  price 
before  the  completion  of  the  work  done  under  said  con- 

— 26— 


tract  and  the  acceptance  thereof  by  the  proper  officer, 
department  or  board. 

Sec.  107.  EIGHT  HOUR  DAY.  The  maximum  time 
of  labor  or  service  required  of  any  laborer,  workman  or 
mechanic  employed  upon  any  municipal  work,  whether  so 
employed  directly  by  the  City  and  its  officers,  or  by  a 
contractor  or  sub-contractor,  shall  be  eight  hours  during 
any  one  calendar  day. 

Sec.  108.  COLLUSION  WITH  BIDDER.  Any  offi- 
cer of  the  City,  or  of  any  department  thereof,  who  shall 
aid  or  assist  a  bidder  in  securing  a  contract  to  furnish 
labor,  material  or  supplies  at  a  higher  price  than  that 
proposed  by  any  other  bidder,  or  who  shall  favor  one 
bidder  over  another  by  giving  or  withholding  informa- 
tion, or  who  shall  wilfully  mislead  any  bidder  in  regard 
to  the  character  of  the  material  or  supplies  for,  or  who 
shall  knowingly  accept  materials  or  supplies  of  a  quality 
inferior  to  those  called  for  by  the  contract,  who  shall 
knowingly  certify  to  a  greater  amount  of  labor  performed 
thau  has  been  actually  performed,  or  to  the  receipt  of 
a  greater  amount  or  different  ikind  of  material  or  sup- 
plies than  has  been  actually  received,  shall  be  deemed 
guilty  of  a  malfeasance  and  shall  be  removed  from  office. 

Sec.  109.  COLLUSION  BY  BIDDER.  If  at  any  time 
it  shall  be  found  that  the  person  to  whom  a  contract  has 
been  awarded,  had,  in  presenting  any  bid  or  bids,  been 
in  collusion  with  any  other  party  or  parties  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preventing  any  other  bid  being  made,  then  the 
contract  so  awarded  shall  be  null  and  void,  and  the 
Council  shall  advertise  for  a  new  contract  for  said  work 
or  provide  for  such  public  work  to  be  done  by  the  City 
Manager. 

ARTICI/E   Xin. 
FRANCHISES. 

Sec.  111.  In  granting  franchises  the  City  Council 
shall  be  governed  by  the  general  laws  of  the  state  in 
force  at  the  time,  and  franchises  shall  be  granted  only 
upon  the  further  conditions  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  112.  Every  application  for  a  franchise  shall  be 
accompanied  by  a  cash  deposit  or  certified  check  suffi- 
cient in  amount  to  pay  in  full  all  costs  of  advertising 
and  other  preliminary  expenses  connected  with  the  of- 
fering for  sale  of  such  franchises  and  the  granting  of 
the  same,  which  deposit  shall  not  be  less  than  one  hun- 
dred ($100.00)  dollars.  Said  deposit  shall  be  returned 
in  case  the  City  Council  shall  determine  that  neither  the 
public  necessity  nor  the  public  interest  requires  the 
granting  of  the  franchise,  or  in  case  the  franchise  be 
granted  to  a  person  other  than  said  applicant.  The  cost 
of  advertising  and  other  costs  hereinabove  referred  to 
connected    with   the   offering   for   sale   and    granting   of 

— 27 — 


said  franchise  shall  be  paid  by  the  successful  bidder  for 
said  franchise,  and  such  payment  shall  be  a  condition 
precedent  to  the  vesting  of  the  franchise. 

Sec.  113.  Franchises  may  be  granted  by  the  City 
Council  to  the  persons,  firm  or  corporation  only  that 
shall  bid  therefor  the  highest  percentage  of  the  gross 
annual  receipts  arising  from  the  use,  operation  or  pos- 
session of  such  franchise,  provided  that  such  percentage 
shall  be  not  less  than  two  per  cent. 

In  the  event  that  any  public  utility  shall  be  taken 
orer  by  the  City,  by  purchase  or  condemnation,  the  fran- 
chise shall  have  no  value. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 
INITIATIVE,  REFERENDUM,  AND     RECALL. 

Sec.  116.     The  laws  of  the  State  of  California  provid- 
ing for  the  Initiative,  Referendum,  and  Recall  in  cities, 
as   they   now   exist   or   hereafter   may   be   amended,    are 
hereby  made  a  part  of  this  charter  and  all  action  under 
the   Initiative,   Referendum,   and   Recall   in   the   City   of 
Chlco  shall  be  taken  in  accordance  with  said  laws. 
ARTICLE   XV. 
MISCELLANEOUS  PROVISIONS. 
»Sec.  121.     All  general  laws  of  the  state  applicable  to 
municipal   corporations,    now   or  hereafter   enacted,   and 
which   are   not   in   conflict   with    the    provisions   of    this 
charter  or  with  ordinances  or  resolutions  hereafter  en- 
acted, shall  be  applicable  to  the  city. 

Sec.  122.  Whenever  in  this  charter  the  word  "City" 
occurs,  it  means  the  City  of  Chico;  and  every  department, 
board  or  officer,  whenever  either  is  mentioned,  means 
a  department,  board  or  officer,  as  the  case  may  be,  of 
the  City  of  Chico. 

Sec.  123.  The  compensation  of  elected  officers  shall 
not  be  increased  or  diminished  during  the  terms  of  their 
respective  offices. 

Sec.  124.  If  any  officer  of  the  city  shall  remove  from 
the  city,  or  absent  himself  therefrom  for  more  than 
thirty  days  consecutively  without  the  permission  of  the 
council,  or  if  he  shall  fail  to  qualify  by  taking  the  oath 
of  office  and  filing  his  official  bond,  whenever  such  bond 
Is  required,  within  fifteen  days  from  the  time  his  cer- 
tificate of  election  or  appointment  is  mailed  or  de- 
livered to  him,  or  if  he  shall  resign,  or'if  he  shall  be  con- 
victed of  a  felony,  or  if  he  shall  be  adjudged  insane,  his 
office  shall  be  vacant. 

Sec.  125.  The  improvement,  widening  and  opening 
of  streets,  and  all  matters  not  specified  in  this  charter, 
shall  be  done,  and  assessments  therefore  levied,  in  con- 
formity with  and  under  the  authority  conferre '  '  y  gen- 
eral law. 

Sec.  26.     All  officers  and  boards  shall  deliver  to  their 

—28— 


successors  all  papers,  books,  documents,  records,  arch- 
ives and  other  properties  pertaining  to  their  respective 
offices  or  departments,  in  their  possession  or  under  their 
control. 

Sec.  12  7.  No  member  of  the  Council,  or  of  any  board, 
and  no  officer  or  employe  of  the  city  shall  be  or  become 
directly  or  indirectly  interested  In  any  contract,  work 
or  business,  or  in  the  sale  of  any  article,  the  expense, 
price  or  consideration  of  which  is  payable  from  the  city 
treasury,  nor  shall  either  or  any  of  them  receive  any 
gratuity  or  advantage  from  any  contract  or  person  fur- 
nishing labor  or  material  for  the  same;  and  any  con- 
tract with  the  city  in  which  any  such  officer  or  em- 
ploye is  or  becomes  interested  shall  be  declared  void 
hy  the  Council. 

Sec.  128.  No  member  of  this  Board  of  Freeholders 
shall  accept  any  remunerative  appointive  office  in  th« 
employ  of  the  City  of  Chico,  until  two  years  shall  have 
€lapsed  after  this  charter  is  approved  by  the  Legislature. 

Sec.  12  9.  All  officers,  clerks,  and  assistants  of  the 
city  and  departments  thereof,  except  such  as  may  be 
employed  for  special  purposes,  must  be  citizens  of  the 
United  States  and  residents  of  the  City  of  Chico  during 
their  period  of  employment. 

Sec.  130.  No  officer  or  employe  of  the  city  shall  give 
or  promise  to  give  to  any  person  any  portion  of  his  com- 
pensation, or  any  money  or  thing  of  value  in  considera- 
tion of  having  been,  or  of  being  nominated,  appointed, 
voted  for  or  elected  to  any  office  or  employment. 

Sec.  131.  No  officer  or  employe  shall  accept  any 
donation  or  gratuity  in  money,  or  other  thing  of  value, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  from  any  subordinate  or 
employe,  or  from  any  one  under  his  charge,  or  from  any 
candidate  or  applicant  for  any  position  as  employe  or 
subordinate  in  any  department  of  the  city. 

Sec.  132.  No  officer  or  employe  of  the  city  shall 
aid  or  assist  a  bidder  in  securing  a  contract  to  furnish 
labor,  or  material  or  supplies  at  a  higher  price  or  rate 
than  that  proposed  by  any  other  bidder,  or  shall  favor 
one  bidder  over  another,  giving  or  withholding  informa- 
tion, or  shall  willfully  mislead  any  bidder  in  regard  to 
the  character  of  the  material  or  supplies  called  for,  or 
shall  knowingly  accept  materials  or  supplies  of  a  quality 
Inferior  to  that  called  for  by  the  contract,  or  shall  know- 
ingly certify  to  a  greater  amount  of  labor  performed  than 
has  actually  been  performed,  or  to  the  receipt  of  a  greater 
amount  of  material  or  supplies  than  has  actually  been 
received. 

Sec.  133.  Every  officer  who  shall  willfully  approve, 
allow  or  pay  any  demand  on  the  treasury  not  authorized 
by  law,  shall  be  liable  to  the  city  Individually  and  on  hii 

—29— 


official  bond,  for  the  amount  of  the  demand  so  approved, 
allowed  or  paid,  and  shall  forfeit  such  office  and  be 
forever  disbarred  and  disqualified  from  holding  any 
position  in  the  service  of  the  city. 

Sec.  134.  All  city  officials,  except  the  tax  collector 
and  employes  empowered  to  collect  money  for  tees,  per- 
mits, licenses,  inspection,  services,  or  other  municipal 
charges,  shall  collect  the  same  promptly  at  the  time  they 
become  due,  turn  them  into  the  city  treasury  weekly, 
and  report  the  same  to  the  city  clerk.  All  such  moneys 
and  all  lines  or  pecuniary  penalties  or  forfeitures  which 
may  accrue  to  the  city,  and  all  funds  which  may  remain 
in  the  possession  of  the  city  unclaimed  after  a  period  of 
one  year  from  the  date  when  due  and  payable,  shall  be 
credited  to  the  General  Fund  of  the  city,  and  shall  be 
applicable  to  any  purpose  to  which  the  Council  may  ap- 
propriate them,  and  the  Council  shall  appropriate  from 
this  fund  whatever  sum  may  be  necessary  to  pay  valid 
claims  of  more  than  one  year's  standing. 

Sec.  135.  All  books  and  records  of  every  office  and 
department  shall  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  any  citi- 
zen during  business  hours,  subject  to  the  proper  rules 
and  regulations  for  the  efficient  conduct  of  the  business 
of  such  department  or  office;  but  the  records  of  the  po- 
lice department  shall  not  be  subject  to  such  inspection 
except  by  permission  of  the  proper  police  authorities. 

Sec.  136.  Copies  of  extracts,  duly  certified,  from  said 
books  and  records  open  for  inspection,  shall  be  given  by 
the  officer  having  the  same  in  custody  to  any  person 
demanding  the  same  and  paying  or  tendering  ten  cents 
per  folio  of  one  hundred  words  for  such  copies  or  ex- 
tracts, and  the  additional  sum  of  twenty-five  (25)  cents 
for  certifying. 

Sec.  137.  Unless  otherwise  provided  for  by  law,  all 
city  officers,  except  the  treasurer,  shall  keep  their  offi- 
ces open  for  the  transaction  of  business  continuously 
from  9  o'clock  A.  M.  to  5  o'clock  P.  M.  each  day,  except 
Sundays   and    holidays. 

Sec.  13  8.  All  ordinances  and  resolutions  in  force  at 
the  time  this  charter  takes  effect,  and  not  inconsistent 
therewith,  shall  continue  in  full  force  until  amended  or 
repealed. 

Sec.  139.  This  charter  may  be  amended  in  accord- 
ance with  the  provisions  of  Section  8,  Article  11,  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  State  of  California. 

Sec.  14  0.  All  officers  and  employes,  when  this 
charter  takes  effect,  shall  continue  to  hold  and  exer- 
cise their  respective  offices  or  employment,  under  the 
terms  of  this  charter,  until  the  election  or  appointment 
and  qualification  of  their  successors. 

Sec.    141.     The   present  Board   of  Trustees   shall   pro- 

— 30 — 


vide  for  the  holding  of  the  first  election  of  officers  un- 
der this  charter  and  shall  canvass  the  votes  and  declare 
the  results  thereof. 

Sec.  142.  All  vested  rights  of  the  city  shall  continue 
and  shall  not  in  any  manner  be  affected  by  the  adoption 
of  this  charter,  nor  shall  any  right,  liability,  pending  suit 
or  prosecution,  either  in  behalf  of  or  against  the  city, 
be  affected  by  the  adoption  of  this  charter,  unless  other- 
wise herein  expressly  provided.  All  contracts  entered 
into  by  the  city  or  for  its  benefits  prior  to  the  taking 
effect  of  this  charter  shall  continue  in  full  force 
and  effect.  All  public  work  begun  prior  to  the  taking 
effect  of  this  charter  shall  be  continued  and  perfected 
hereunder.  Public  improvements  for  which  legislative 
steps  shall  have  been  taiken  under  laws  in  force  at  the 
time  this  charter  takes  effect,  may  be  carried  to  com- 
pletion in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  such  laws. 

Sec.  143.  No  councilman  shall  in  any  manner  attempt 
to  Influence  the  city  manager  in  the  making  of  an  ap- 
pointment, or  in  the  purchase  of  supplies. 

Sec.  144.  If  any  section  or  part  of  a  section  of  this 
charter  proves  to  be  invalid,  it  shall  not  be  held  to  in- 
validate or  impair  the  validity  of  any  other  section  or 
part  of  a  section,  unless  it  clearly  appears  that  such  other 
section  or  part  of  a  section  is  dependent  for  its  opera- 
tion upon  the  section  or  part  of  a  section  so  held  invalid. 

Sec.  145.  When  making  purchases  for  all  departments 
of  the  city,  local  merchants  shall  be  given  the  preference, 
quality  and  price  being  equal. 

Sec.  146.  Neither  the  city  manager,  nor  any  person 
In  the  employ  of  the  city  shall  take  any  active  part  in 
securing,  or  shall  contribute  money  toward  the  nomi- 
nation or  election  of  any  candidate  for  a  municipal 
office. 

Sec.  147.  All  the  powers  of  tjie  city  except  as  other- 
wise provided  by  this  charter,  are  hereby  vested  in  a 
council   of   five   members. 

Sec.  148.  For  the  purpose  of  electing  members  of 
the  Council,  and  members  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  elective  officers  of  the  city,  and  all  purposes  con- 
nected therewith  this  charter  shall  take  effect  from  the 
time  of  its  approval  by  the  legislature.  For  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  departments,  divisions  and  officers, 
and  distributing  the  functions  thereof,  and  for  all  other 
purposes,  shall  take  effect  on  the  third  Monday  of  April, 
1923. 

WHEREAS,  the  City  of  Chico  for  years  past  has  been 
and  now  is  a  city  containing  a  population  of  more  than 
three  thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants,  as  ascertained 
by  the  last  preceding  census  taken  under  the  authority  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States;  and 

—31— 


WHEREAS,  on  the  4th  day  of  June.  1921.  at  a  special 
election  duly  held  on  that  day  in  said  city,  under  and 
In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Section  8  of  Article 
XI.  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  California,  the 
electors  of  said  City  did  duly  choose  and  elect  Nellie  A. 
Allen,  John  C.  Burdon.  W.  J.  Costar,  W.  B.  Dean,  L.  G. 
Faulkner,  Henry  Haile,  Ed.  Harkness,  W.  W.  Head,  H. 
E.  Nichols,  M,  C.  Polk,  S.  A.  Reynolds,  H.  A.  Roth,  A.  M. 
Scott,  Margaret  Warren  and  John  S.  Waterland  (who 
were  all  electors  of  said  city  and  eligible  as  candidates 
under  said  section)  a  Board  of  fifteen  Freeholders  to 
prepare  and  propose  a  charter  for  the  government  of  the 
said  city;   and 

WHEREAS,  the  result  of  said  election  was  duly  de- 
clared by  the  legislative  body,  to-wit:  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  said  city  on  the  7th  day  of  June.  1921.  and 
the  said  electors  with  the  exception  of  the  said  S.  A. 
Reynolds  thereafter  duly  qualified  as  such  Freeholders 
In  accordance  with  law: 

BE  IT  KNOWN.  That  in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of 
said  constitution  and  within  the  period  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  days  after  the  result  of  said  election  was  so 
declared,  the  board  of  freeholders  has  prepared  and  does 
now  propose  the  foregoing  as  and  for  the  charter  of  the 
City  of  Chico;   and 

BE  IT  FURTHER  KNOWN,  That  the  said  Board  of 
Freeholders  hereby  requests  said  council  to  cause  the 
publication  of  the  said  proposed  charter  as  provided  by 
said  Section  8  of  Article  XI.  and  fixes  Thursday,  the  15th 
day  of  December.  1921,  as  the  date  for  holding  an  elec- 
tion in  said  city,  at  which  the  proposed  charter  shall  be 
submitted  to  the  electors  of  said  city  for  their  ratifica- 
tion and  adoption. 

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  we  the  undersigned  free- 
holders have  hereunto  set  our  hands  at  the  City  of  Chico, 
County  of  Butte.  State  of  California,  this  16th  day  of 
September,  1921. 

A.  M.  SCOTT.  Chairman. 

M.  C.  POLK. 

W.   B.   DEAN, 

NELLIE  A.   ALLEN. 

MARGARET    WARREN, 

ED.  HARKNESS. 

W.   J.   COSTAR. 

JNO.    S.    WATERLAND, 

H.   A.   ROTH, 

W.  W.  HEAD. 

H.  E.  NICHOLS. 


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